7 Most Effective Ways to Avoid Twitter Miscommunications

Let’s face it miscommunications can be horrible, for many they create a situation of uneasiness, they can easily led to mishaps and can even ruin relationships. We live in a diverse world and many times what you may think is the assumed by your peers, just isn’t so. Add an 140 character limit into the equation and you run an even greater risk for miscommunications.

Twitter is a great social networking tool, it offers many great opportunities for people to connect – that may have otherwise never have. But with the good there is always some level of negativity that can to turn an easily rectifiable situation into chaos.

So how do you avoid these miscommunications while still maintaining a certain level of pleasure and/or productivity while using the Twitter Platform? The answers are easier than you may think.

1. Be Clear – Make your point as clear as possible, avoid using lingo that is not universal, age specific or of a metaphorical nature. While tools like the urban dictionary are easily accessible, not everyone knows about there existence, nor can you guarantee they take the time to research it.

2. Use Email – if you can not get your point across in 140 characters or less, make it a point to email the person and express your full intent. There is nothing in the Twitter TOS that states you can not contact people outside the social networking medium.

3. Don’t Jump the Gun – if you are unsure about a message you have received from an individual or business, ask for clarification. Send them a message to seek clarity, mistakes happen, don’t them them ruin your day.

4. Send a public reply before Direct Messaging – Not everyone checks their Twitter direct messages, try sending the user a public @reply before sending a direct message (DM). If you do not receive a response back from your DM or public reply try again at a later time.

5. Have some one else review it– if your message screams the need for clarification, have a friend review it and ask them what they think. If the the message is received by them in the same manner as your intent, chances are you are on the right track.

6. Be Objective – Don’t let your personal biases of situations cloud your judgement. Be objective, take each messages as it is and not what you feel it may be.

7. Keep it Simple – Large words may make increase your vocabulary, but not everyone understands what they mean in the 140 character message you may be using them in. Use small direct words, that don’t have multiple meanings to have the greatest chances of success.